Ordination Update: 8 New Deacons for Gary

Eight men were ordained as deacons to the Roman Catholic Church at Holy Angels Cathedral on Saturday. Seven became traditional deacons in the church in the service conducted by Bishop Dale J. Melczek, while one was ordained as a transitional deacon and will become a priest in 2014.

“Deacons are a constant reminder that vocations are not about entitlement but embracing Jesus,” Melczek said. “They do this by encouraging us by their own example.”

Achieving the ordination required six years of training, and as a traditional deacon in the church, are allowed to marry or can be married.

Christopher Stanish of Portage was ordained as a transitional deacon. He required eight years of training to prepare for becoming a priest next year.

“The Lord calls each of us to particular vocations,” Stanish said. “For me, I was called to be exclusive to the Lord. It’s a real gift to be detached from everything else and be a part of people’s most intimate moments of their lives.”

Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos!

You can see more of photographer Guy Rhodes’ excellent photo gallery at this link.

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Deacon Greg Kandra is a Roman Catholic deacon serving the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. In February 2011, he was named the Executive Editor of ONE, the acclaimed magazine published by the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA). [Read More...]